NHTSA lists 234 complaints for the 2003 Hyundai Elantra, 42 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 25 complaints mention an injury, with 33 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as HYUNDAI ELANTRA.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Recalls
See new recalls and investigations this week.
5 recalls.
Date: 2009-04-16. Systems: SUSPENSION.
Defect: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 160,904 MY 2001-2003 ELANTRA AND MY 2003 TIBURON VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT USED (excerpt)
Consequence: THE FRACTURING OF THE CONTROL ARM COULD AN OWNER'S CONTROL OVER THEIR VEHICLE THAT MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. (excerpt)
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS INCORPORATING ADDITIONAL HOLES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PANELS. IF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS DO NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ADD DRAINAGE HOLES TO THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL AR (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2004-07-26. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY" A VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE ROLLS OVER AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2004-04-09. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Defect: SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2003-12-03. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.
Consequence: CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY RESULT IN REAR BRAKE TUBE WEAR AND CORROSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE REAR BRAKE TUBES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-633-5151.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2003-07-22. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES PASS BEHIND THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER. TWO STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE CROSSMEMBER. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), THE REAR BRAKE TUBES COULD CONTACT BOTH STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS. ON VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES MAY CONTACT ONLY THE LEFT MOUN (excerpt)
Consequence: FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. (excerpt)
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES SO THEY DO NOT CONTACT THE MOUNTING BRACKETS, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS TO CONTROL THE LOCATION OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE TUBES IN THE AREAS WHERE CONTACT WITH THE MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY HAVE OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
2 investigations; 0 open.
PE09011
Opened: 2009-02-18. Closed: 2009-04-21.
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTING
ON APRIL 14, 2009, HYUNDAI MOTOR CORPORATION SUBMITTED TO ODI A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT INDICATING THAT IT WOULD RECALL A SALT-BELT POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 155,317 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA VEHICLES TO REMEDY A DEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH WHILE DRIVING (09V-125).THE AFFECTED VEHICLES COVER ALL MY 2001, MY 2002, A
Systems: SUSPENSION.
Linked campaign numbers: 09V125000.
PE08017
Opened: 2008-03-10. Closed: 2008-07-10.
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 VEHICLES, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION AND AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT OR INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE.THE CONTROL MODULE IS LOCATED BENEATH AND NEAR CENTER CONSOLE CUP HOLDERS.ODI IS ALSO AWARE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION DUE TO LOSS OF PROPER AIR BAG ELE
Systems: AIR BAGS.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
68 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 17 |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 12 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 10 |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 9 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 5 |
|---|
| STRUCTURE | 5 |
|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 |
|---|
| TIRES | 3 |
|---|
11032522
Date: 2026-04-10. Type: Other. Systems: AIR BAGS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit drivera side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prio
11032523
Date: 2026-04-10. Type: Other. Systems: AIR BAGS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous drivera s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the ve
11025476
Date: 2025-11-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary
10251285
Date: 2024-02-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY/WIPER.
This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, w
10247189
Date: 2023-10-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
10235566
Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moist
10230904
Date: 2023-01-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary
10217251
Date: 2022-07-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement.
10217258
Date: 2022-07-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: TIRES.
Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds.
10196546
Date: 2021-05-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicleA A?A A A A s ownerA A?A A A A s manual. A A A A A A? Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions. A A A A A A? Use of other DCT and IVT gear oil may result in reduced dur